YouTube: Colorful Tomatoes to Grow in 2021

Continue ReadingYouTube: Colorful Tomatoes to Grow in 2021

We all have limited space for tomatoes, and given the abundance of options (there are more than 600 varieties of heirloom tomatoes alone!) deciding which to grow can be like choosing a favorite child. In this video we share our selection of colorful tomatoes that we are growing here at Gardenerd. Tomatoes come in all shapes and colors, and flavors that range from tart to super sweet. We choose paste/plum, cherry, beefsteak, and salad sized tomatoes for variety, color, and…

Brassica seedlings wordless Wednesday
Kale of all sorts grow under grow lights for 16 hours per day.

Spindly Seedlings under Grow Lights?

Continue ReadingSpindly Seedlings under Grow Lights?

This week we received two questions about the same problem: spindly or stunted seedlings under grow lights. One gardenerd said her seedlings were still leggy, even though she situated the grow light 2-3" above the leaves. The other gardenerd said her seedlings were just not growing.

Broccoli, cabbage and more grow under lights for October planting.
Broccoli, cabbage and more grow under lights for October planting.

YouTube: Seed-Starting 2 Ways

Continue ReadingYouTube: Seed-Starting 2 Ways

Our latest YouTube tutorial comes in answer to a request for a video about seed-starting. In this video we share two different methods for starting seeds for your fall (or spring) garden. We explore the traditional seed-starting method, as well as the Grow BioIntensive method for germinating a lot of seeds in one small seed flat. Seed-starting allows you to grow plants that aren't available at the nursery. The world is your oyster when you grow from seed. It's also…

Yellow Perfection tomato expire date
Packed for 2000. That doesn't mean it expires then, it just means they aren't packaging old seed.

Seed Storage is Key: 18 year-old seeds? No Problem!

Continue ReadingSeed Storage is Key: 18 year-old seeds? No Problem!

Well smack my fanny and call me Pearl! I just germinated tomato seeds that "expired" in 2000. What's the secret to prolonged seed vitality and successful germination? It's all about seed storage, baby. The truth is seeds don't expire. They lose viability if stored improperly. While most seed companies will tell you to replace seeds every 2-3 years, those seeds will keep for decades and will germinate when planted if kept in a cool, dark, and dry place. The germination…

Read more about the article Damping Off – What to do?
Discoloration and thinning of the stem right above soil level is a sign of damping off.

Damping Off – What to do?

Continue ReadingDamping Off – What to do?

The most exciting thing in the garden this time of year is the ritual of starting seeds for fall, but nothing bursts your bubble like damping off. What is damping off? It's when seedlings are overtaken by a pathogen (a fungus or mold) that damages them to the point of failure. Let's take a closer look. Damping Off Sucks When you put moisture, soil, and light together, you get germination. You may also get diseases. Damping off occurs under a…

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